Nozzle tube



June 10,1941. W, A, HARGISS 2,244,947

-NOZZLE TUBE Filed Dec. 4, 1939 a 12 gf` wie *l E E f t E `4 n z 5 i 5 ,M14 x i I j z V n S n r l E z l l t i f4 INVENTOR n 719 5 M M/A HMG/55 15 15 L ,L-,a 6 ATTORNEY Patented June l, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,244,947

NOZZLE TUBE William A. Hargiss, Tulsa, Okla.

Application December 4, 1939, Serial No. 307,345

7 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid discharge nozzles and particularly to nozzle tubes of the type ordinarily attached at the end of gasoline dispensing hose for insertion into'the supply tanks of an automobile, or the like.

In iilling automobile tanks or the like from a dispensing hose equipped with the more conventional form of nozzle tubes, the operator ordinarily has no positive way of knowing when the tank becomes full, since the interior of the tank is invisible. Unless, therefore, great care is exercised, generally by greatly reducing the rate oi ow of gasoline into the tank, and thereby greatly increasing the filling time, the tank may overflow, causing waste and producing a lire hazard due to the spilled fuel. Also, since the iiller tubes of most automobile tanks are not straight but are curved in various ways to conform with the framework and construction of the vehicle, and since modern gasoline dispensing pumps are operated to discharge fuel into the tanks at the rate of about 15 gallons per minute, the liller tubes will often overflow, even though the tank is not full, and result in wastage of fuel as well as in the hazard of` fire and explosion resulting from the spilled fuel. This overow of the filler tubes is due in part to the restrictions in the flow of entering iluid because of the bends or curves in the filler tubes and in part to the exiting air being displaced from the tank by the entering fluid. Since the space between the walls of the filler tubes and the inserted nozzle tube is cornparatively coniined, the exiting air discharges through this space at a relatively high velocity and tends to block the entrance of the liquid into the tank and to mechanically carry out of the filler tube some of the entering fluid.

It is, therefore, aA general object of this invention to provide improved forms of nozzle tubes which will obviate and eliminate to a great extent the aforementioned and other difculties inherent in the use of more conventional forms of nozzle tubes.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved form of nozzle tube for use with gasoline dispensing hose which will continuously advise the operator of the rising level of liquid in the tank receiving same and which will promptly warn him when a pre-determined level is reached in the tank.

Another important object is to provide a modiiied form of nozzle tube which is adapted to automatically control the rate of ilow of liquid through the nozzle tube in accordance with the iilling conditions in the receiving tank.

More specic objects are to provide a nozzle tube having an internal return passageway for air and gas displaced from the fluid receiving tank and a Venturi arrangement for producing a vacuum in said return passageway; to provide means in said passageway which is operative by the return of flow oi air therethrough to produce an audible signal indicating the progress in filling the receiving tank with liquid and warning when it is full; and to provide a diaphragm operated ilow valve for controlling the liquid discharging through said nozzle tube by the vacuum produced in said passageway.

These and other objects of this invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing which illustrates two useful embodiments of this inven tion.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the nozzle tube of this invention inserted in operative position in the nller tube of a liquid receiving tank.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a nozzle tube constructed in accordance with one modification of this invention.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are cross-sections taken along lines 3 3, ll-JL and 5 5 respectively, of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of another modification of this invention which includes automatic means for controlling the ilow of liquid through the nozzle tube.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l shows the end of a tube I, such as the conventional gasoline pump dispensing hose, to which is connected a conventional form of manually operated discharge control valve 2, to the discharge end of which there is connected by means of a union 3 one of the nozzle tubes constructed in accordance with this invention, the details of which Will be described more fully hereinafter. The nozzle tube ll is shown inserted through the usual iiller tube 5 of the ordinary automobile fuel tank 6.

The details of nozzle tube l are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and comprise an elongated tubular jacket 'l constructed preferably of metal and provided at its inlet end with external threads 1a for ready attachment to union 3. Mounted interiorly of the inlet end of jacket l' is a nozzle member 3 having an axial passageway 9 and provided about its inlet end with an outwardly Aturned annular flange Il) which is rigidly connected to the bore wall of jacket 1 to form a fluidtight joint therewith. Nozzle member 8 is of generally. tubular shape which tapers toward its end of passageway I6.

discharge end and is of substantially lesser exterior diameter than the bore of jacket 1. Extending axially through jacket 1 is a Venturi tube designated generally b-y the numeral I I, and consisting of the usual enlarged inlet portion I2, throat I3 and diffuser tube I4 which is of gradually enlarging diameter toward its discharge end which protrudes slightly from the discharge end of jacket 1 forming a tip portion I5. The external diameter of Venturi tube II is generally smaller throughout its length than the internal diameter of jacket 1 thereby forming a generally annular passageway I6 therebetween. The inliquid out of the tank. By means of the delet portion I 2 of the Venturi tube surrounds nozzle member 8 and its internal diameter is somewhat greater than the external diameter of ,nozzle` member 8, thereby providing an annular passageway I1 between these members. The free end of inlet portion I2 terminates forwardly of `flange.

Ill and is rigidly connected to the inner wall of jacket 1 by a plurality of radially arranged spacers I8. The free area between the spacers permit open communication between passageways I 6 and I1. Another group of spacing members I9 are similarly arranged between the discharge ends of jacket 1 and diiuser tube I4, to maintain a relatively uniform spacing therebetween and permit open communication with the An annulus, designated 2i), and consisting of a pair of spaced ring members a and 20h surround throat I3 of the Venturi tube and extend transversely across passageway I5 to the inner wall of jacket 1. The ring members 20a and 2Gb have fluid tight connection with the outer wall of throat I3 and the inner wall of jacket 1. Each of rings 20a and 20h have a plurality of registering orices 22 which are circumferentially arranged therein. The annulus 20 constitutes a signal member which by its form produces an audible whistling sound when air or gaseous iluid flows through the orifices 22. This form of whistle is of a common type familiar to persons generally.

The nozzle tube, above described, operates in the following manner to accomplish the previously mentioned objects of this invention:

As indicated in Fig. 1, the nozzle tube, attached to the end of the dispensing hose is inserted in the iiller tube 5 of the liquid receiving tank and the flow of liquid to the tank is begun by opening Valve 2 in the usual manner. The liquid owing through nozzle member 8 and thence through Venturi tube II creates a vacuum in passageways I1 and IS which acts to draw a portion of the air and vapors being displaced from tank 6 by the entering liquid through passageway I6 toward passageway I1 and thence into the throat I3 of the Venturi tube, where it is returned to the tank with the entering iiuid. The ilow of air and vapors through passageway I6 must necessarily pass through orifices 22 and, by virtue of the construction of annulus 20, will produce a whistling sound which will be clearly audible to the operator. As long as this sound is heard by the operator he knows that the level of liquid in the tank has not yet reached the tip of the nozzle tube, for as soon asthe level of liquid rises sufficiently to submerge the tip of Ithe nozzle tube and the end of passageway IB the iiow f air and vapors into passageway I6 will be cut oit and the whistling will cease immediately, thus instantly warning the operator that the tank is [ull to the level to which the nozzle tube has been inserted.

Because of its relatively high vapor pressure characteristics, gasoline, unlike other liquids, when discharged from a tube, such as Venturi tube II, will tend to expand radially. For this reason, tip I5 is provided in order that the radial expansion will take place somewhat in front of and spaced from the end of passageway I6, otherwise liquid leaving the end of Venturi tube II would be immediately sucked back into passageway I6 by the Vacuum created therein. Due to the expansion of the gasoline, air and vapors owing back from the tank and through filler tube 5 will necessarily pass through the expanding mist of liquid and will tend to blow some of the vacuum therein and will be recirculated tothe ,tank with the main stream of liquid, thus eliminating or reducing greatly the losses of liquid ordinarily carried out of the filler tube by the displaced air and vapors.

Instead of constructing jacket 1 and Venturi tube II of rigid metal, these members may be constructed of flexible metal or other substances so as to allow bending of the nozzle tube to conform with the entrance angles or shapes of the various iiller tubes into which the nozzle tubes are to be inserted. For example, jacket 'I may be constructed of any of the conventional forms of ilexible metal tubing, the joints of which should be air tight, however, while Venturi tube Il, or at least diffuser tube I4, may be constructed of thiokol or neoprene or any other exible v composition which is insoluble in the gasoline or other liquid passing through the nozzle` tube. The spacers I9 will maintain passageway I6 open while permitting some degree of relative longitudinal movement between the ends of jacket 1 and diffuser tub-e I4 resulting from the iiexing of the nozzle tube.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of the nozzle tube of this invention which includes additional elements operative by the vacuum created in passageway I B by Venturi tube II to automatically con-trol the rate of iiow of liquid through the nozzle tube. In this modification the inlet end of jacket 1 is connected to an enlarged chamber 25 which has a reduced neck portion 26 which is threadedly connected to a collar member 21, which is, in turn provided with a reduced inlet portion 28 having external threads for attachment to union 3. The bore of collar member 21, inwardly of the end thereof, is reduced somewhat in diameter and internally threaded to receive a tubular sleeve 29, which extends through reduced neck portion 25. Nozzle member 8 is provided with an elongated tubular shank 38 which is slidingly mounted on the outer surface of sleeve 29 and is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 3I. An annular shoulder 32 is positioned internally of shank 30 at a position therein intermediate the ends of the shank and its lower face is provided with a ground seat 33 which cooperates with a disk valve 34 axially positioned in the bore of shank 30 and afxed to a stern 35 which is xedly attached to the center of a spider 36 which is rigidly mounted in the bore of the reduced p0rtion 28 of collar member 21. Reduced portion 26 of the chamber 25 is provided at its inner end with an inwardly extending annular shoulder 36a, the bore of lwhich is of suilicient diameter to allow free longitudinal movement therethrough of shank 30. A coil spring 31 surrounds the portion of shank 35 which extends between shoulders 3l and 36a and normally tends to hold these members apart. A flexible bellows 38 also surrounds the portion of shank 3|] between shoulders 3l and 36a and is positioned inside the coils of spring 3l. The ends of bellows 38 has fluid tight connection between the adjacent faces of shoulders 3l and 35a so as to prevent leakage of any fluid along the exterior of shank 30. This bellows arrangement is a conventional form of fluid tight flexible connection which is commonly used in many mechanical constructions. By this arrangement it will be evident that as nozzle member 8 and shank Sil move longitudinally on sleeve 29 toward the discharge end of the nozzle tube, seat 33 will cooperate with valve 34 to close the axial passageway through the nozzle member against the compression of coil spring 31, while movement in the opposite direction, aided by expansion of spring 3l, will open the passageway.

As in the previously described modification, the discharge end of nozzle member 8 extends into the inlet portion l2 of the Venturi tube providing passageway il therebetween, while the inlet end of inlet portion i2 is rigidly connected with the bore wall of jacket l so as to provide ports 4|] for communication between passageways I6 and l1. Whistle member 2l) may also be positioned in passageway IG as above. In the vpresent arrangement this communication extends through the hollow interior of chamber 25. A flexible partition member 4l extends generally transversely across the interior of chamber 25 and has fluid tight connection between the outer wall of shank 3E! and the inner wall of chamber 25 thereby dividing the lchamber into upper and lower sections 25a and 25h, respectively. Vents 42 extend through the wall of section 25a to provide open communication between this section of chamber 25 and the atmosphere.

The operations of the modified form of nozzle tube is as follows: Liquid is discharged from hose I into and through the nozzle tube in the usual manner by opening valve 2. As the liquid discharges through the Venturi tube a slight vacuum is created in passageways I5 and Il and section o of chamber 25 and causes flow of air and vapors into and through passageway I6 toward passageway I1, and produces the audible signal in member 29 just as in the previously described modification. So long as this flow of air.and vapors is relatively dry, the flow thereof through passageway It will be relatively free and unrestricted and the vacuum produced by the Venturi action will be very small, and will be insufficient to flex partition member 4I, since coil spring 31 will ordinarily be designed to resist movement of the nozzle member 8 under low vacuum conditions. When, however, sullicient splashing of liquid entering the filler tubes occurs to cause substantial entrainment of liquid in the air and vapors entering passageway I6, this liquid will tend to restrict the free area of the passageway,

and the resulting restriction will tend to sharply and will thereby act to check the Ilow of liquid through the nozzle tube and reduce the lling rate to such an extent as to eliminate splashing and allow the liquid to enter the tank quietly. Immediately, the splashing is eliminated, the vacuum is reduced and the valve opens again to allow a greater rate of flow of liquid. Of course when the tank has been filled to a level sufficient to submerge the end of the nozzle tube, vacuum thereupon created in passageway I6 will be at a maximum and sufficient to completely close the valve in the nozzle member 8, thereby completely cutting off the flow of liquid to the tank. In View of this arrangement permitting control -of flow and complete cutting-off of the flow when the tank is lled, whistle member 20 may be dispensed with entirely although it is often desirable even in this modication to furnish an audible signal of the filling progress. It will be evident, therefore, that by the modied form of this invention, the ilow of liquid through the nozzle tube is automatically controlled in conformity with the lling conditions, and the objectionable effects of ordinary practice are substantially obviated or eliminated. In this modification, also, the jacket and Venturi tube members of the nozzle tube may be constructed of flexible materials.

It will be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made in the size, form and details of construction of the nozzle tubes herein described without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A nozzle tube comprising, an elongated tubular jacket, a Venturi tube extending longitudinally through said jacket and concentrically arranged therein to provide a substantially annular passageway between the jacket and tube which is open at one end, means providing communication between the opposite end of said passageway and the inlet end of said Venturi tube, a tubular nozzle member extending into the inlet end of said Venturi tube and having fluid tight engagement with the bore of said jacket rearwardly of said opposite end of said passageway, and signal means positioned in said passageway and responsive to the flow of gaseous fluid therethrough to emit an audible signal.

2. A nozzle tube comprising, an elongated tubular jacket, a tubular nozzle member mounted in one end of said jacket, said nozzle member having a laterally extending annular flange about its inlet end which has fluid tight connection .with the inner wall of said jacket and a tip portion of reduced diameter extending axially into said jacket, a Venturi tube mounted axially within said jacket, said Venturi tube having its inlet end surrounding said tip portion and in radially spaced relation thereto and terminating forwardly of said annular flange, the discharge end of said Venturi tube extending beyond the opposite end of said jacket, said Venturi tube being of generally smaller diameter than said jacket to thereby provide a generally annular passageway between the jacket and the Venturi tube, and signal means mounted in said passageway and responsive to the flow of gaseous fluid through said passageway to emit an audible signal.

3. A nozzle tube comprising, an elongated tubular jacket, a Venturi tube extending longitudinally through said jacket and arranged therein to provide a longitudinal passageway between the jacket and tube open at one end and communithrough said chamber and longitudinally movable relative to the inlet of said Venturi tube, a

valve in said chamber operative by the longitudinal movement of said nozzle member to control the liow of liquid therethrough, and means responsive to vacuum created in said chamber by the flow of liquid through said Venturi tube to produce said longitudinal movement of said nozzle member.

4. A nozzle tube comprising, an elongated tubular jacket, a Venturi tube extending longitudinally through said jacket and concentrically arranged therein to provide a substantially annular passageway between the jacket and tube, a tubular nozzle member mounted in said jacket and longitudinally movable relative to the inlet end of said Venturi tube, a valve operative by the longitudinal movement of said nozzle member to control the ow of liquid therethrough, and means responsive to vacuum created in said passageway by the flow of liquid through said Venturi tube to produce said longitudinal movement of said nozzle member.

5. A nozzle tube comprising, an elongated tubular jacket, a Venturi tube extending longitudinally through said jacket and concentrically arranged therein to providea substantially annular .passageway between the jacket and tube which is -open to the atmosphere at one end, an enlarged chamber which is connected to the opposite end of said jacket, and communicating with the bore of said Venturi tube, means providing communication between the opposite end of said passageway and the interior of said chamber, a tubular nozzle member extending axially through said chamber into the inlet end of said Venturi tube :and movable axially relative thereto, a valve in the bore of said nozzle member, adapted to be opened and closed by axial movement thereof, and means positioned in said chamber and connected to said nozzle member and responsive to vacuum conditions in said chamber to produce said axial movement lof said nozzle member.

6. A nozzle tube comprising, .an elongated tubular jacket, a Venturi tube extending longitudinally through said jacket `and concentrically arranged therein to provide a substantially annular passageway .between the jacket and tube which is open to the .atmosphere at .one end, an enlarged chamber connected to the opposite end of said jacket and communicating with the bore of said Venturi tube, means providing communication between the opposite end of said passageway and the interior of said chamber, a tubular nozzle member extending axially through said chamber into the inlet end of said Venturi tube and movable axially relative thereto, a valve in the bore of said nozzle member adapted to be opened and closed by axial movement thereof, and a iluid tight flexible partition member extending across said chamber and connected to said nozzle member, said ,partition member being responsive to vacuum conditions in sai-d chamber to .produce said axial movement of said nozzle member.

7. A nozzle tube according to claim 3 wherein a signal means is mounted in said passageway, said signal means being responsive to the ow of gaseous fluid through said passageway influenced by said vacuum to emit an audible signal.

WILLIAM A. HARGISS. 

